the duchess will see you now

A Year in Review

Last year I cleared out all of my photo and music files from the computer and stored them on external hard drives. But I just noticed a rather large file on my desktop that somehow managed to escape the clean-up. Going through photos is always fun. Here are some from the batch.

In the summer of 2008 the whole family vacationed in Ocean City and Assateague, Maryland. The day it rained we gathered on the sun-porch and Yimmy, Rock and I played our guitars while everyone clapped and sang along. We covered the tables with paper and had crab feasts for dinner. We played cards for money at night.

Mycol was 17 years & Rockwell was 18 months.

We dipped our toes in the Atlantic and watched the wild ponies saunter on by.

In the fall, Yimmy took me to the pumpkin patch at Schramm’s with him and his boys to pick pumpkins for Halloween jack-o-lanterns.

Last winter was as glorious as this one. Yim and I went out in the night storm and delighted in the sights. The Pennsylvanian looked like the backdrop to an old mystery movie, with it’s lighted clock above the archway glowing through the falling snow.

And the row-houses along Friendship Avenue reminded me of a quaint English neighborhood. These lighted stars go up every holiday season, to the joy of everyone I know in the area. They are magical.

I remember Christmas that year was great. I hosted La Vigilia and Alison and Peppino were honored guests of the family. At midnight, Yimmy joined us and we all went to a Polish church, Immaculate Heart of Mary, with respect for UB.

By March I’d had enough of the snow and cold. I was in misery with tension just trying to stay warm. Yimmy took me to the mall to walk around. That was okay, but not quite what the doctor ordered. But how about this? He took me over to Phipps Conservatory for an afternoon of walking through the gardens, breathing the oxygen and smelling the soil.

As a matter of fact, my banner picture of the ferns with spores was taken on that day at Phipps.

In the spring, when it was mild enough, we went on an urban hike. We were on a quest for all things interesting. Interesting food, which we found, interesting shops, which we found, and interesting photos. I had my camera at the ready. This is the most interesting door pull I’ve ever seen.

Also that spring, we were invited to see La Boheme with good friends of mine and we dressed for the occasion. After the opera, we went salsa dancing.

Soon, Mycol celebrated his 18th birthday. My handsome son requested a birthday meal of pulled pork sandwiches with sweet potato french fries, tangy cole slaw, and chocolate cream pies for dessert. We partied on Zia and UB’s deck and had a grand old time.

We really enjoyed the pictures.Zia’s favorite is the Hemingway cottage look at the castle.Yim what a handsome look!Zia said you look like an English professor.Duchess,you look as lovely as ever! Mycol never looked better and of course the star of the galleria;Rocky Gnocchi and Big Rock.

As a side comment ,for those who never experienced a Polish Midnight Mass plan on going to Polish Hill and attend Immaculate Heart of Mary’s.You will be amazed by the beauty of the decorated church and all of the pre-Mass pageantry.If you live in the ‘Burgh and never attended,plan on attending this year!It’s very impressive.If there is a more decorated church around I doubt it.

Those pictures of you and Jim have now moved you into the what just might be the most fashionable couple in Friendship. You both owned those outfits. I expect nothing less when I come out in June for Cj’s again. Just take pics and let me live great jazz vicariously until then!